Olukere not yet Oba, council of Ekiti traditional rulers cautions claim

THE Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers has cautioned on the addressing of the Olukere of Ikere as a king, saying this was an “aberration” and “anomalous.”

The council said “the description of Ganiyu Obasoyin, otherwise known as Olukere from Ikere-Ekiti as a monarch in Ekiti State” was improper, citing the provisions of the Ekiti State Chiefs Law, Cap C 5.

The Chairman of the Council and the Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju, who addressed newsmen on the matter, said “rising from its 205th statutory meeting in Ado Ekiti, on February 27th, 2018, the State Traditional Council described the reference to Obasoyin as an aberration, anomalous, unacceptable and misleading to the Nigerian public.”

Oba Ademolaju said: “This is more so as the application of the Olukere for recognition is still pending before the state government.”

Asked if the affected Obasoyin had been notified of the decision of the council, Oba Ademolaju said “he didn’t wait for our report before he began to call himself an Oba. So, we don’t have to consult him before we set the records straight.”

Ademolaju while reacting to who a king is, said “if he’s a king, why is he seeking recognition? He has a pending application here for recognition. He should be patient because he is not yet a traditional ruler, and he should wait for the outcome of his application before the Council.”

He said “calling him a monarch is against the state’s Chieftaincy Law,” and added, “the Council states without equivocation that the recognised monarch for Ikere-Ekiti is the Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti.”